What's on

In conversations with visitors, as a result of inquiries from scientists, and thanks to new additions to our collection or archive interesting aspects often come to light, and they are currently being dealt with and will be made available to the public. Interested readers are happy to make use of these new facets, as do researchers for their projects.

Objects

Is a condom a condom? Far from it! Even condoms tell stories of fashion trends, tabus, developments, and societal trends. The same is true for pills and patches, rinses, sponges, for creams, gels, and caps. The interesting parts are the stories behind each object. Our about 1700 objects can tell a lot of those. Most of it will be news to you.

Topics

Pregnancies are planned - when it 'fits' other life events like education, job, time period to the previous child, moving etc. We can decide, but we don't always do. In that case the pregnancy 'happened'. Or we don't have choice, because the government, church, and society determine rules we're supposed to obey. Some are too lazy to use contraceptives, while others would be happy to do so.

Book finder

Everyone writes about abortion and contraception: doctors, authors, and do-gooders, fighters, poets, song wrinters, lawyers, scientists, housewives, natural philosophers, priests, and teachers. Often, those writings can only be understood in the context of the time period, in the best case it keeps its value over centuries. Some things should have never been printed. We have it all.

The museum

Between Wednesday to Sunday, 2-6pm for € 8 (€ 4 for everyone under 22 years) we present history and stories about contraception, pregnancy tests, and abortion: How was it, how is it, how will it be? Who pulls the strings? We exhibit instruments, objects, photos, videos, documents, newspaper articles etc. For groups we offer guided tours. Mariahilfer Gürtel 37, 1150 Vienna (near Westbahnhof).

Hermann Knaus realised what had been riddling generations of scientists before him: how is the female cycle controlled? Which days are fertile, which infertile? His day-counting method can be used either way.

MUVS Vienna is reaching out to obtain photographs that illustrate the critical situation of a woman with an unwanted pregnancy in a realistic way. Photographers are invited to grapple with the difficult topic of unwanted pregnancy and abortion in a creative way.